Understanding CIS Benchmarks
Required knowledge for the CKS certification.
CIS Benchmarks are a set of best practices and guidelines developed by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) to help organizations improve their security posture. These benchmarks provide configuration baselines and security recommendations for a wide range of systems, networks, and applications.
What are CIS Benchmarks?
- CIS Benchmarks are community-driven, created by security professionals, vendors, and subject matter experts.
- Cover over 100+ technologies, including Operating Systems (OS), Server Software, Cloud Providers, Network Devices, and Applications.
- Include configuration recommendations that enhance security and reduce vulnerabilities.
How CIS Benchmarks Work
- Configuration Guidelines: Provide step-by-step instructions for configuring systems securely.
- Scoring Systems: Many benchmarks include scoring systems to measure compliance.
- Auditing Tools: CIS offers tools like CIS-CAT Pro to help organizations automate assessments.
Key Components of CIS Benchmarks
- Profiles: Provide different levels of security baselines:
- Level 1: Basic security for general environments.
- Level 2: More stringent settings for high-security environments.
- Scoring: Recommendations are often categorized as:
- Scored: Impact overall compliance score.
- Not Scored: Advisory and do not affect compliance scoring.
- Automated Tools: Tools like CIS-CAT Pro can automate assessments.
Why Use CIS Benchmarks?
- Improve Security Posture: Provides a structured approach to secure systems.
- Compliance Requirements: Many regulations and standards reference CIS Benchmarks as best practices.
- Risk Management: Helps identify and mitigate risks through well-defined controls.
Conclusion
CIS Benchmarks offer a valuable resource for organizations aiming to enhance security, maintain compliance, and reduce risks. Regularly assessing configurations against CIS guidelines helps ensure systems remain protected against evolving threat landscapes.